How to deal with parents...

[disfasia]

The only thing I dislike since having a child are many of the parents. The constant sexism, the bullies pushing around 2 year olds whilst their parents are off smoking with friends completely unconcerned, etc. Then today I finally met a parent I thought was really level headed, caring, concerned but not a parent-bot. Then when my 8 month old picked up a toy of a third woman from the ground and started playing with it, this woman announced, "People think I am rude but I am not a believer in sharing toys..." and she took the toy from my child's hand and gave it to the third woman's daughter. I was shocked because as this woman preached that children should not be made to share their things, that they are attached to their possessions, she pulls the toy from a child who basically has no concept of possession while encroaching on her personal space. (Sigh)

How to do deal with such situations? I was shocked and ended up reacting too slowly...and basically saying that what I find important is that people respect my child's body... I don't think she got the 'hint'.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Just don't judge, each to their own. But taking something from your child's hand is a definite NO NO. Cheeky bitch, she will be friendless ASAP if she carries on like that. You will know, if there is a next time, what to say eg: "Excuse me do not touch my child or the this he/she is holding I find it very rude"

You get to develop your quick defense of your child/speak up and out/ when you are pissed off/annoyed/disagree with something, as they get older and older.

Mine are now 11 and 6 and with my first I was quiet and accepting, but now cross me or my child and I will let you know in no uncertain terms!

Of course parents can do what they like with their own children but they should never ever impose what they think on other people's children, so out of order!

Next time take the toy out of the childs hand she gave it to and give it back to yours!

Thanks for the advice. I am all into accepting what people say and do--but sexism, racism, etc, I really don't want to hear or be around. That is not on, hence I have had to step back form many scenes. While incidents of racism I have not encountered, I have been around many of those parents who say, "Boys are more this" or "Oh she is doing that because she is a girl". I find sexism no less offensive so I say nothing but move away.

Yeah, I am starting to have to push myself to react faster. Isn't it amazing how people do to children what would be completely unacceptable to adults? Thanks again!

This made me laugh. I don't even bother with toddler groups these days because I dislike the children's parents so much :)

I find it quite sad that you all feel this way.

There are other nice parents out there! You just don't seem to have found the place where they all hang out yet :)

don't tar us all with the same brush, some of us are ok(ish) you know

i take my daughter to a toddler group every Friday, and tbh the parents who i don't see eye to eye with i avoid, sit in another part of the room. i have made some really really good friends with some of the mums there and more importantly my daughter has a great time and has made some good friends to. In fact one mother who i took a bit of a dislike to, but felt sorry for one day when her son was being a bit of a tinker, is now a really good friend - she didn't like me either as she thought i was a snob who shut myself off from others!!

that being said, i totally get your reaction to what the mother did, and if someone did that to my daughter i would have had a few choice words...whether it be at the time or a bit later!!